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Work in news — especially, in online news that’s practically a 24/7 operation — is unique. It saps so much energy, takes so much of you, but it’s also something you cannot truly shut yourself from.
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I’m looking at my tracker for the staff’s approved vacation leaves, and June is full — fuller than all other months for the rest of the year. If you’ve been following Rappler, you probably have an idea why everyone wants some breather mid-year.
We’ve just come from covering the national and local elections in May, which was preceded by, among other major, unscheduled happenings: the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity, his 80th birthday spent in detention but celebrated in rallies that coincided with the start of the local campaigns, the death of Pope Francis, and the election of Pope Leo XIV.
To Rappler and our communities in related sectors, these events were not just the usual big coverages that indeed come either unexpectedly or regularly. These involve issues where our reportage and civic partnerships have not only been strong but already made a mark. Operationally, that reality translated to these past months where vacations were not on anyone’s calendar.
Hi! I’m Miriam Grace A. Go, Rappler’s managing editor, and present and past Rapplers have associated me with the #LoveBan imposed on them (yes, they’ve turned it into a hashtag) during election seasons (I tell them: unsure, unstable relationships are a distraction from election coverage). I’m also the one to remind the staff of “rules” about breaks that aren’t really rules but considerations that we trust would come naturally from news people who own the stories they cover and want to stay ahead. (In other words: news adrenaline junkies.)
So what are the “considerations”? No vacation leaves for more than 2-3 days during the campaign period. No leave during the homestretch of the campaign. No days off the weekend before election day and on election day itself (I mean… news org, hello?)
Emergencies and sickness are a different story, of course. Days off are still observed — but when you need to cancel then offset those, you are expected to consider the requirements of the news cycle.
You can imagine then how full my January leave tracker was, and how the February and March lists were long but only because a number of people took only a day or two of time off.
Work in news — especially, in online news that’s practically a 24/7 operation — is unique. It saps so much energy, takes so much of you, but it’s also something you cannot truly shut yourself from. Here in our world, FOMO is for real.
One example I used to often cite before with younger reporters was: Do you think, if then-president Duterte was rushed to Cardinal Santos hospital on a Friday, Pia Ranada would say, “Don’t disturb me, I’m off on weekends”? Of course not! Then there was Lian Buan, on sabbatical and studying in the UK, breaking a story on an International Criminal Court (ICC) development about Duterte’s case — while in class!
Of late, Paterno Esmaquel II’s Sundays were spent going to churches not to worship but to give a local flavor to our Pope Watch. Iya Gozum had to postpone her birthday getaway to after-elections because she was covering Metro Manila races — and even then (yes, now, as she’s on leave), she sent word that she wanted dibs on an investigative lead that the newsroom got. Bonz Magsambol had to map out his dream overseas vacation in such a way it wouldn’t conflict with his coverage of the senatorial election and the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. I can go on and on about the other reporters, researchers, producers, and editors too.
I’m aware that colleagues in the industry have the impression that work at Rappler is so intense that someone who is used to the pace and load of most traditional media would get a culture shock if they joined us.
The little secret, in fact, is that providing work-life balance for employees is a top consideration here while planning (yes, intense) coverages and projects, that we have a most mindful management of canceled days off, spread of vacations, and truly merry and happy week-long Christmas and New Year breaks on top of earned leaves. We dutifully give solo parents their additional leaves. We get paid not working on our birthdays.
So recharging is not taken against anyone, in fact it is ensured — that’s my point. And recharging at this point of the year is so necessary because we’re just about getting ready to bring you excellent coverage of upcoming big events as you deserve — that’s my other point.
This weekend and for the rest of next week, we have a full complement covering the Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Ilocos Norte, ready to showcase the young athletes that bring nothing but pride to their home provinces and regions.
In June, the process of VP Sara’s impeachment trial begins, with the Senate formally receiving the articles of impeachment, approving the trial rules, and doing pre-trial proceedings. The VP’s trial starts July 30. We are excited to share with you in time the coverage plan we have already drawn up.
We can only hope that the normally light, slow December would not break into some frenzied news cycle. But, well, who’s complaining, really? We are Rappler.
And you are our partner. Your continued support in many forms makes this work, this advocacy, this mission that is first-rate journalism that empowers the community feel like, well, a vacation. – Rappler.com
